The Secret He Left Behind.

ally have to we

n the doorway with a pout only a five-year-old could perfect. Aria's tiny ha

id, fighting a smile as she flipped a panca

pink is for babies," Aria

ftly. "And what d

her chin proudly. "That I

pancake onto a plate shaped like a cat's face and drizzled syrup wi

fortress - pancakes, gentle chatter, a school run, her café

na, "theirs

rough the window, catching in Aria's curls - dark brown, rich, and a little too familiar. Every now and then, Elena caugh

away before her th

th half-full of pancake, "do you

e. The sound of syrup dripping

id when that question came. "Maybe," she sai

y satisfied by that small piece of

of hair behind her daughter's ear. "

"You tell me

ute they took every morning. The streets were lined with small shops, all of which she knew by name: the

that way. She didn't need grand gestures or head

morning air buzzed with chatter. Aria squeeze

said, letting her run toward

er mixing with the sound of squeaky swings and teacher greetings.

he hea

" one of the older boys s

a fr

rs stiffened. "I didn

"Sure. Maybe he

arp, deep - from a voic

immaculate even in the playground dust. He had the kind of c

yes narrowing slightly at t

tely, muttering an apo

ished. The kind of man who belonged in boardrooms, not schoolyards. His hair was dark, neatly styled; his

. Sharp,

level, his voice softenin

gging her rabbit toy. "They

ion - a strange, almost imperceptible

e way Aria stared up at him

y managed, stepping clo

he turned toward her, El

as the sudden, inexplicable pull in her chest, the kind that

et smooth. "Adrian Blackwood. I'm her

d automatically. "And th

ack to Elena. Something unspoken passed between

. "You have my eyes,

nked. "You

ed a soft laugh. "Aria notices d

dn't quite reach his eyes. "She'

his name from across the yard. "Mr

more. "Be kind, little one," he said qui

uldn't shake the feeling that the ground had shift

ugged her sleev

trying to smile

n hall, her fingers trembled slightly around the strap of

hose

were